Virginia Lawyers Weekly

‘Influential Women’ nominations sought

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: January 17, 2012
Tags: Influential Women of Virginia

Virginia Lawyers Weekly will host the fourth annual “Influential Women of Virginia” program this May. We are now accepting nominations for the Class of 2012.
The Influential Women awards honor high-achieving women across the commonwealth. They recognize the outstanding efforts of women in all fields, including law, business, health care, education, government and the arts.
We will [...]

Doan v. Lowe’s Home Centers Inc.  

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Personal Injury
Court: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Attorney: Douglas B. Wessel, Reston

Summary: A “friendly bear hug” by an employee at a Fairfax County Lowe’s resulted in a customer’s spinal cord injury.
The employee, who is 6’2 and weighs more than 300 pounds, rushed up behind a regular customer to greet him with a strong hug. [...]

Jafer v. DiMattina MD 

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Medical Malpractice
Court: Arlington County Circuit Court
Attorneys: Malcolm P. McConnell III and Jason W. Konvicka, Richmond
Summary: A 30-year-old woman suffered a stroke after undergoing in vitro fertilization therapy. She alleged that the defendant physician was negligent because he ignored warning signs of a complication called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and continued the therapy.
Due to [...]

McDougle v. Bruggeman 

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Wills & Estates
Court: Hanover County Circuit Court
Attorney: Thomas G. Haskins, Richmond
Summary: A daughter left out of her father’s will won a jury verdict overturning the will and awarding her the entire $2 million estate.
Mary Lynne McDougle’s parents executed a written contract in 1995, with each spouse promising to bequeath all property to [...]

Robinson v. Furman 

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Wrongful Death
Court: Richmond Circuit Court
Attorneys: Mark Krudys, Richmond
Summary: The Richmond City Sheriff and his former chief jail doctor were hit with a $2.4 million verdict for the 2008 death of an inmate from pneumonia that allegedly went untreated. The verdict may be a record in Virginia for death of an inmate.
James Robinson, [...]

Vargas v. Warner MD, et al. 

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Medical Malpractice
Court: Prince William County Circuit Court
Attorneys: David M. Kopstein, Fairfax Station; Barry L. Leibowitz, Wheaton, Md.
Summary: An infant was delivered by the defendant doctor to a mother from Mexico who had received no prenatal care. During the delivery, the doctor encountered a severe shoulder dystocia.
There was no direct evidence that the [...]

Confidential 

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Medical Malpractice
Court: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Attorney: William E. Artz, Arlington
Summary: The plaintiff alleged that defendant radiologist missed a left breast abnormality during a screening mammogram.
A year later, the same defendant discovered the abnormality during the annual screening mammogram and recalled the plaintiff for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. Two masses were found [...]

Estrada v. Service Tire Truck Center, et al.  

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Wrongful Death
Court: Henrico County Circuit Court
Attorney: John C. Shea, Richmond

Summary: A Mexican national from North Carolina was killed when a driver for a tire service company ran a red light in Henrico County.
Daniel Estrada made $19,000 a year as a salesman for his own tortilla distribution company. Estrada and his family were [...]

Sandbridge Dunes Condominiums Unit Owners Association v. Sandbridge Dunes Condominiums LLC 

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Real Estate
Court: Virginia Beach Circuit Court
Attorneys: Stephen G. Test and Robert Travers, Virginia Beach
Summary: Condo owners at Sandbridge Dunes filed a Condominium Act suit after three years of fruitless attempts to have the project developer fix leaks and faulty construction in the building’s common areas.
Owners pursued statutory warranty claims for structural defects [...]

Webb v. Virginian Pilot Media Companies LLC 

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 9, 2012

Type of case: Defamation
Court: Chesapeake Circuit Court
Attorney: Jeremiah A. Denton, Virginia Beach
Summary: A high school student in Chesapeake scored $5 million against The Virginian-Pilot after the paper reported he routinely bullied fellow student Patrick Bristol.
The plaintiff, Kevin Webb, contended that the Pilot emphasized the bullying allegation even though it was a relatively small piece of [...]